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A molecule is chiral if the mirror image is non-superimposable and achiral if the mirror image is
superimposable
• Chirality is derived from the Greek word for hand and means "handedness"
• Non-superimposable mirror images are called enantiomers
• To determine if two molecules have different spatial arrangements, make models of each and try
to superimpose one on the other. If they are superimposable then they are the same molecule, if
not they are different molecules.
• The most common feature of a chiral carbon-compounds is that four different groups are attached
to one carbon atom
• The bonding arrangement can create chirality - note that the atoms do not have chirality.
Determining Chirality
• If a compound has one chiral carbon then the molecule is chiral
• If a compound has more than one chiral carbon then the molecule may be chiral
• Any molecule with an internal plane of symmetry is not chiral
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